Genistein inhibits the growth of human-patient BPH and prostate cancer in histoculture.
BACKGROUND
There is strong epidemiological evidence that prostate disease is significantly less prevalent in the Orient, where the intake of soy products is very high, than in the United States. We therefore undertook a study of the effects of genistein, a major component of soy, on growth of human-patient benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and prostate cancer tissue in three-dimensional collagen gel-supported histoculture.


METHODS
Surgical specimens of human BPH and cancer were histocultured for 5 days to study the effects of genistein on growth, as measured by inhibition of 3H-thymidine incorporation per microgram protein on day 5.


RESULTS
Genistein in doses of 1.25-10 micrograms/ml decreased the growth of BPH tissue in histoculture in a dose-dependent manner, with little additional effect at higher doses. Prostate cancer tissue in histoculture was similarly inhibited by these doses of genistein.


CONCLUSIONS
Genistein decreases the growth of both BPH and prostate cancer tissue in histoculture. The data suggest that genistein has potential as a therapeutic agent for BPH and prostate cancer.
Geller
J
J
AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, California 92111, USA.
Sionit
L
L
Partido
C
C
Li
L
L
Tan
X
X
Youngkin
T
T
Nachtsheim
D
D
Hoffman
R M
RM
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019833:Genistein / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011467:Prostate / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D013025:Glycine max / Q000737:chemistry; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D014316:Tritium; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D014316:Tritium; D019833:Genistein; D013936:Thymidine